A gang of body builders in Florida attempt the kidnap and extortion of a businessman. Loosely based on the actual events and court case surrounding the ‘Sun Gym gang’, this outrageous film is entertaining but struggles between crime dramatisation and glorification. A good cast works well here though. Watch it and decide!
Tag: michael bay
Transformers (2007, dir. Michael Bay)
A teenager finds he has crucial knowledge that might prevent an intergalactic war between battling robot armies. Spectacular – in the Debordian sense – SF comedy with excellent technical credits, but shot like the fever dream of a Sunny D-addled child. Excessive, and with a nasty after-taste. Four direct sequels followed.
Here’s the trailer.
6 Underground (2019, dir. Michael Bay)
A tech billionaire finances a vigilante squad dedicated to removing threats to global peace. Well-made fun-but-dumb action-comedy playing to the director’s trademark obsessions and strengths in mashing up Michael Mann and Tony Scott. An auteurist work; spectacular in both the Debordian and the blowing-shit-up-good senses.
The Island (2005, dir. Michael Bay)
After discovering the truth about their existence, two clones escape their high-tech facility. Okay near-future (set in 2019) chase thriller that takes a while to get going, but then delivers in the kinetic style typical of its director.
Armageddon (1998, dir. Michael Bay)
A crack team of misfit oil drillers is sent into space to blow up an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Bombastic basic training/mission action flick with some comic moments and all of the director’s penchant for wearying excess when unrestrained.